Meet the NFL’s first transgender cheerleader

Justine Lindsay isn’t your typical cheerleader.

The first transgender woman to be part of an NFL cheer squad, Lindsay is leading the sport to a new level of acceptance and equality. And, she points out, the Carolina Panthers’ TopCats is at the forefront of the new formation.

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The clips are a hit of pure joy and prove the power of representation.

In a revealing interview with Elle, Lindsay opened up about her journey as a transgender woman, an elite squad member, and what it’s like being thrust into a new role as a trans icon.

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“I want to change the narrative for my trans sisters and brothers, just to [let them] know that if you have a goal, go for it,” she says. “Turn that dream into a reality. Be an NFL cheerleader, or a doctor, or a nurse, or whatever you set your mind to.”

Cheerleaders aren’t just pom poms and smiles. They’re dancers, athletes, and role models. Lindsay’s path to the cheer squad started when she saw an Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s performance of Revelations, a number that blends African-American spirituals and sermons.

“Seeing people that looked like me… and how they were able to move their bodies, well, it really stuck with me,” she told the outlet. “I was like, ‘Dang, I could do that.’”

Dance became a massive part of Lindsay’s life, including a scholarship to the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles as a young teenager. She credits the inclusive environment with helping her come to terms with her gender identity.

“I was around people who were open about being who they are,” Lindsay explained. “I became more comfortable asking, ‘Who am I?’”

She found the answer, she says, by the time she turned 18. “I was always Justine.”

Lindsay returned to North Carolina for college and settled back into her hometown of Charlotte after graduation, where she started hormone therapy.

“Getting looks from guys saying how pretty you are, even though that’s not what is important, was validation that I was going in the right direction,” she said. “But I wasn’t hanging out with any other trans women, so I just didn’t know much about [the community].”

And when she did connect with the local trans community, it was one of her new friends that encouraged her to try out for the cheer squad.

Cheerleaders have grappled with sexual harassment, misogyny, poor pay, and unsafe working conditions for decades, but with the #metoo movement and lawsuits, things have slowly become better. But Lindsay also has to struggle with living and working in one of the most vehemently anti-LGBTQ+ states in the nation.

State legislation defines transgender girls as “biologically male” and bans them from playing sports on teams that align with their gender identity because they’re a “threat” to competition. North Carolina also forbids gender-affirming care for transgender youth. A few years ago, the state caused a national furor, spawning multiple boycotts and costing the state billions in revenue, when it banned transgender women from using restrooms that align with their gender identity.

“We are in the South,” TopCats squad member Chris Crawford acknowledged, “and there are gender norms and trends that aren’t always recognized, accepted, or acknowledged.”

“I wholeheartedly wish I could tell you that, on game day, all of our fans celebrate Justine,” coach Chandalae Lanouette says. “But that’s just not 100 percent the case.”

“Justine earned her spot on this team, but there are a lot of people that, if it doesn’t fit into a box, they have a hard time understanding it.”

But Lindsay knows that she has the wholehearted support of her team.

“We learned how to navigate the different issues and hardships that we each carry as individuals outside of being TopCats,” Crawford said. “We are a family here, and family protects each other.”

“It’s important for us to be able to show [that] this is for everybody, no matter your gender, how you look, anything,” TopCats veteran Rockii Nelson told Elle. “It’s important for fans to see that.”

“We are a true example of what a great team looks like, and other teams can build off of that,” Lindsay added. “Every organization is different, but at the TopCats we care for each other and check on each other and have a genuine love for each other.”

“Her presence has spread a lot of joy and love in Charlotte,” Lanouette said, “It’s rippling out to the rest [of the world], which is really beautiful.”